20/10/2021
The Twinning Programme between Spain and Egypt works to educate small and medium-sized Egyptian companies about the importance of intellectual property
Training workshop in Egypt
Intellectual property is one of the most valuable assets of companies. They generate growth , economic development and employment. For this reason, it is important to protect company innovations and guarantee their exclusivity. This protection is an incentive for investment in R&D&i and the development of new technologies.
Large companies often have people dedicated to the registration of patents and the protection of intellectual property. These practices are much less frequent in small and medium-sized companies. For this reason, the twinning programme between Egypt and Spain , funded by the European Union and managed by the FIIAPP, works together with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) in the development of strategies for working on intellectual property with SMEs .
Several specialists from the SPTO have travelled to give workshops and training to the staff of the Egyptian Patent Office (EGPO). During one of the visits, coordinated by this cooperation project between Egypt and Spain, patent examiners were trained in intellectual protection procedures related to biotechnology . It is a complex sector, with particularities such as the bioethical implications of some innovations.
In addition, during another of the visits, a set of tools with materials dedicated to the promotion of intellectual property with a focus on small and medium-sized companies was developed. For Pedro Cartagena , project coordinator and industrial property expert at the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM), the pandemic has not prevented us meeting the project’s objectives: ” The pace of implementation of the project is going very well.”
During the last follow-up meeting, the next steps to be taken by the project up to December were approved. In total, seven activities are planned that will continue to contribute to the strengthening of the Egyptian Patent Office with the support of the FIIAPP and the OEPM.
